Series: Cirque Du Freak: Saga of Darren Shan | Publication Date: September 1, 2002
In this fourth book in the bestselling Saga of Darren Shan, Darren Shan and Mr. Crepsley embark on a dangerous trek to the very heart of the vampire world. But they face more than the cold on Vampire Mountain?the vampaneze have been there before them.
Will a meeting with the Vampire Princes restore Darren's human side, or turn him further toward the darkness? Only one thing is certain?Darren's initiation into the vampire clan is more deadly than he can ever have imagined.
The Cirque Du Freak saga continues with book four, Vampire Mountain by Darren Shan. Here, fans find Darren and Mr. Crepsley on a trip to the very seat of the bloodsuckers' empire, where a meeting with the Vampire Princes puts Darren in a precarious position. Ages 10-up. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8-Darren Shan, the loquacious vampire's assistant, narrates another blood-and-guts tale. Having tracked a horror-movie-stereotype vampire in their previous adventure, Darren and his master, Larten Crepsley, take another hiatus from the bizarre circus of the series title to make a pilgrimage to the Halls of Vampire Mountain to meet with the generals and princes in charge. The peregrinators are accompanied by a pair of ugly, speechless Little People who carry an ominous message for the council from their "old as time itself" master, Mr. Tiny. The road is perilous, of course, and getting to their destination is only half of the problem. Darren's biggest challenge, following a run-in with a crazed grizzly bear and a foolhardy confrontation with a rare, Xena-like vampiress, comes in defending his maker, the one who inexplicably violated the proscription against blooding a child. While the previous trio of "Cirque du Freak" books could each relatively stand alone, this fourth entry marks a definite transition, a critical segue into adventures to come that will revolve around Mr. Tiny's foreboding and Darren's impending Trials of Initiation (book nine is already in the works in the U.K.). The book ends with a "to be continued-" teaser along with an excerpt from the next book. John Sigwald, Unger Memorial Library, Plainview, TX Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Darren Shan's real name is Darren O'Shaughnessy (pronounced O-Shock-Nessy, though it can also be pronounced O-Shawn-Essy_. Although he is Irish, he was born on July 2, 1972, in St. Thomas' Hospital, London -- directly across the river from the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, which may explain his fascination with evil bloodsuckers! He lived in South East London, near the Elephant & Castle. He started school at the early age of three (he was such a wild child, no pre-school facility would have him!), in English Martyrs. At the age of six, he moved to Limerick in Ireland, with his parents and younger brother, and has lived there ever since.
Shan went to primary school in Askeaton, where his mother was a teacher, then to secondary school in Copsewood College in Pallaskenry. Later, he went back to London to study Sociology and English at Roehampton University. He then worked for a cable television company in Limerick for a couple of years, before setting up as a full-time writer at the age of 23.
Although Shan always wanted to be a writer, it was only in his teenage years that he began writing in his spare time for fun (before that, he only wrote stories if they were for homework). He bought his first typewriter when he was 14, and never looked back, knocking out loads of short stories and comic scripts, and making false starts on several books, which he never completed. He enjoyed his first taste of literary success at age 15, as a runner-up in a television script-writing competition for RTE in Ireland, with a dark comedy script titled A Day in the Morgue (he was morbid even then!).
Shan was 17 when he finished his first novel. Although it was never published, he relished the writing experience, and found himself focusing more on novels in the coming years, leaving behind the short-story format. For the next several years, sandwiched between university and work, he wrote an average of one book a year, experimenting with different ideas, genres, lengths and styles. When he started writing full-time, his output shot up to 5 to 6 books per year! But that has dropped back to 2 to 3 recently, due to all the travelling around he's been doing to promote sales of his books.
All of these early books were adult-oriented. Although Shan quite liked the idea of writing a children's book one day, he considered himself an adult writer first and foremost. In fact, Shan's initial breakthrough was with an adult book, in 1999, titled Ayuamarca (since re-released in the UK as Procession Of The Dead, and coming to the USA in 2010).
In January 2000, his first children's book, Cirque du Freak, which he'd written as a fun side-project, was published. The first book in a series titled The Saga of Darren Shan (or Cirque du Freak, as it's known in America), it attracted rave reviews and an ever-growing army of fans hungry to learn more about vampires which were quite unlike any that anyone had ever seen before!
Shan loved writing for children so much, that for the next several years he focused exclusively on his books for younger readers. First, he wrote a total of 12 books about vampires. He quickly followed up his vampiric saga with The Demonata, a series about demons. Running to ten books in total, The Demonata cemented Shan's place in the UK as the Master Of Children's Horror, and saw him score his first UK #1 bestseller. He also wrote a one-off short book, called Koyasan, for Wold Book Day in the UK.
There was a very successful manga adaptation of Shan's vampire series, drawn by the Japanese artist, Takahiro Arai. It was originally serialized in Japan, but collected volumes are now on sale in the USA, UK and other countries.
In addition to writing for children, Shan has now returned to his first love and is once again writing for adults as well. He has had two adult books published in the UK, Procession Of The Dead and Hell's Horizon. They have been released in a number of other countries too, and are due to hit the USA in 2010. A third, City of the Snakes, goes on sale in the UK in March 2010. His first adult books were released under the name of D B Shan, but they are being reprinted under the name of Darren Shan in March 2010, and City of the Snakes will be released under the Darren Shan name.
By the start of 2010, Shan's books were on sale in every continent, in 39 countries, in 31 languages, and have been children's bestsellers in America, Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway and other countries. The books have topped adult bestseller charts in Hungary, Japan and Taiwan. In total, Shan's books have sold close to 15 million copies worldwide!!!!
The movie rights to Cirque Du Freak were bought by Universal, and the first movie (which combines elements from the first three books in the series) was released on October 23rd, 2009, starring newcomer Chris Massoglia as Darren Shan, along with a wide array of established stars such as Josh Hutcherson, John C Reilly, Salma Hayek, Willem Defoe and Ken Watanabe. The movie was called Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant. It was released on DVD and Blu-Ray in February 2010.
A big film buff, with a collection of more than four thousand movies at home, Shan also reads lots of comics and books, and likes to study and collect original artwork, especially comic art and impressionist and post-impressionist art. He has recently started adding sculptures to his collection, making use of the large, empty field outside his back door. Other interests include long walks, watching football (he's a Tottenham Hotspur and Ireland fan), listening to pop and rock music, theatre, worldwide travel, sampling the delights of both gourmet cuisine and finger-licking junk food, and dreaming up new ways to terrify his readers!!!
Shan spends most of his time in Limerick, Ireland, with his girlfriend Bas. He has no pets, but a neighbourhood dog called Goldie joins him on his walks most days. He also feeds a variety of wild birds, and spots the occasional hare and pheasant strolling through his back yard. In addition to his main home in Ireland, Shan has an apartment in London, to which he escapes for a burst of high-speed living every so often, when he feels the need to get his juices flowing!! Shan rarely writes when in London or on the road, preferring to tie himself to his computer when at home in Limerick, where he can work away solidly without any distractions in the peace and quiet of the Irish countryside.
This review is from: Vampire Mountain (Cirque du Freak, Book 4) (Hardcover)
This book may not live up to some people expectations after the first three instalments of "the saga of Darren shan", Being from England i have read this book (and all the saga up to book 8...) and, although most people would admit that this ks not exactly a high point for the serise, it is still a good book in its own right, and set up the next two books in the "vimpire mountain" trilogy very well, introduseing new idea and people who will become vital to how the saga pans out. If you read this book over I'm sure you will be surprised that it is not half as bad as you remember! A word of warning however... if you feel this book ends on a cliffhanger, you will not BELIVE the ending to book 5 (trials of death)! it will be a long hard wait between that and book 6 9The vampire prince.) belive me!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
The four entry in the Darren Shan series proves to be the most interesting yet the least-action packed of any of the previous novels. Upon reading the first four books in the series it is easy to see why Universal Pictures* has decided to adapt the 12 books into 4 separate movies (each movie chronologically focuses on a book trilogy). The books are interesting, easy to read, and not too childish (as one might perceive from the large font and short page count) - but at the same time they do take a lot of time for things to really start going. It wasn't until the fourth book that any of the mythology has started to come into the play.
The first three novels can easily be summarized as Darren Shan's introduction into the world of Vampire's and later a particular ensemble of creaturesFun. They can easily been seen as a collective story (as they deal with Darren's destruction of his human-life to his naïve acceptance of his vampire life) but they also each have their own distinct manner.
The fourth book is a bit of a departure for that. It seems that the author, now confident with his series and armed with an established world, has finally set out to tell the story he has been itching to get to. The book takes place approximately 8 years after the events of the third book and equally works as a sequel, while keeping a distinct distance from the series epilogue. In this novel the author has confidence in his story and his characters enough to finally delve into his vampire mythology and lore - something he seemed unwilling to do in previous novels.
But this becomes a double edged sword for the novel: it brings the reader to a whole new level within the `Cirque du Freak' world - but so much time is spent in the novel telling the back story that the book suffers from a lack of a plot. There is a beginning and a middle but no real end. There is no climax. There is character growth (a lot of it), but this particular installment finished unfulfilled because the reader is left with more confusion than anything else.
If the reader can get beyond the books lack in plot (this book seems to set the tone that the remainder of the series will stray from self-contained stories into overlapping arc-like structures) they are rewarded with a very rich history, some particularly interesting (both psychologically, biologically and even in view of popular culture) liberties with the vampire. The character's of "Harkart" and the various vampire supporting-cast as well as the mysterious Mr. Tiny are all developed well beyond anything seen in the previous novels. For the first time as a reader I looked beyond the obvious peril and emotion in the book and starting to really care for the characters. Because I have spent more time with them, because they are more fleshed-out, and because his book easily hints at some pretty amazing storytelling in future books.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: Vampire Mountain (Cirque du Freak, Book 4) (Hardcover)
"Vampire Mountain" is the fourth book Darren Shan's great series, "Cirque Du Freak." This book startes six years after book four and chronicles the journey of Darren and Mr. Crepsley to Vampire Mountain. The most excitment happens near the end of the book. Since this book is the first of a three part storyline, the TO BE CONTINUED... at the end is the most cliff-hanging ending I've ever read in this series. I can not wait till April of 2003 when the next book will come out.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
First Sentence:
I WAS EXCITED BUT ANXIOUS about the journey - I was venturing into the unknown, and I had a feeling it wouldn't turn out to be a smooth trip - so I spent the day busily packing knapsacks for myself and Mr. Crepsley, to make the time pass faster. Read the first pageKey Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
bat broth, mad vampaneze, ordinary vampires, full vampire, dead vampire, many vampires, other vampires
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Little People, Vampire Mountain, Little Person, Hall of Princes, Vampaneze Lord, Darren Shan, Paris Skyle, Stone of Blood, Gavner Purl, Harkat Mulds, Madam Octa, Arra Sails, Cirque Du Freak, Mika Ver Leth, Hall of Death, Seba Nile, Vampire Princes, Larten Crepsley, Halls of Sport, Kurda Smahlt, Hall of Khledon Lurt
New! Books on Related Topics |
Concordance
|
Text StatsBrowse Sample Pages: Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
